However, he fell close to the bar and crushed the former grammar schoolgirl against it, breaking the bones of her pelvis.

Prosecuting, Paul Brown said: "The injury had a huge impact on Miss Fairbrace. She worked extremely hard to gain a place at Cambridge in order to gain the best career possible. This has put her at a huge disadvantage."

In a victim impact statement, Miss Fairbrace said Shaw had been “completely reckless”.

She said: “I made it very clear by pushing against him and shouting that I didn't want him to run with me in his arms.

“It was clear to any rational person that his behaviour was reckless.”

Shaw, who was suspended from the university for a year, wrote a letter apologising to Miss Farbrace.

He wrote: “I'm devastated by what happened. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

Magistrates acknowledged Shaw’s remorse but said: “The injury involved in this case was very serious. We feel your behaviour was reckless and dangerous, aggravated further by drink.”

Miss Farbrace's father Michael, speaking from the family home in Dover, Kent, said: "She's very relieved at the outcome in court. She's back in Cambridge. It's been a difficult time for her."